Noticeable in the small area of the dolls dress, yep...

FWIW, I was watching the news the other night, I presume they have "good" cameras, and a particual announcer had a light suit, with some sort of pattern to it... the moire was so bad it looked like he was wearing "electric herringbone"... it was actually a bit disconcerting! Not normally a big issue (although I've noticed it on that channels newscast a few times, never this bad), but sure was obvious with that one particular suit/coat!

Methinks that there's potentially a moire problem with HD in general, and one must be aware of it and avoid specific sorts of repeating patterns when shooting (tile roofs, certain fabrics, brick walls, etc...). It's showing up too often to be strictly a "design flaw" per se. May just be one of those things like having to be careful with "reds"...

The low light footage was pretty impressive otherwise. The VG10 still catches my eye as a useful tool for certain types of shooting, hoping I'll get lucky and pick a used one up from some guy who bought it "because it looked cool and was the most expensive cam they had" and doesn't realize it takes some chops to operate!

FWIW, supposedly there's a firmware update coming for the NEX3/5 and I presume the VG10 that will allow the AF to work with Alpha glass - apparently also have to update a ship in the adapter too. THAT will open this camera up a lot as there's lots of great A mount lenses available!

Please, I am dying to know if the HDMI connection puts out uncompressed HD that can be used with a Nanoflash. Has anyone tested it?

The reverse. Zoom to Tele and focus and you can zoom to Wide and all be in focus. You can even zoom back the original subject and it will be in focus -- as long as the distance remains the same.

=====

Cross-color -- where fine detail becomes color artifacts -- has been with us from the beginning of TV. It's still with us in HD.

Moire is aliasing from fine horizontal lines and results when a low-pass filter isn't used -- as is the case with any camera that also shoots stills. It's too bad the VG10 shoots stills because it could have had a LPF and beat the HDSLRs. Perhaps someone will make a filter we can put on our lenses. :)

Regarding zoom and focus procedure
 

That's good news since that's the way it's always been with the old style zoom lenses. Zoom in, focus, pull and and shoot knowing that everything is safe to then zoom into! Whew.

After pulling back you can zoom into the original subject, but you can NOT zoom into anything closer to you.

Only AF allows free zooming.

======

HDMI is live when shooting -- of course you cannot see your on-screen display since the LCD and VF are turned off. You can turn them on but they'll show-up on the HDMI signal.

Personally, I think 24Mb AVCHD for progressive video is good enough for a $2000 camera.

Likewise, I don't see any value to buying lenses for an adaptor. If you have a collection and want to play, thats fine. But, you really want old lenses that have focus and aperture rings. And, I don't know if these early lenses can be mounted on the A-mount adaptor or other adaptors. Im thinking of early Nikon, Canon, Minolta, and Sigma lenses. Anyone?

Does the 18mm--55mm Sony lens you recommend for better balance also feature the internal stabilization? And is this the sort of camera you can hold in front of your face for an hour and not get achy muscles?

Sony of course has their adapter for the Alpha mount lenses, which means a HUGE selection of glass from old Minolta stuff through current Sony lenses, plus lots of 3rd party glass. Not all features will work, so you need to do some homework on the exact lens, but it opens up lots of options including some pretty extreme Zeiss lenses.

Since the NEX series hit the street, 3rd party adapters are popping up for just about any mount - do a pass on eBay, you'll probably find adapters for just about anything I suspect... you won't have the AF and all since the lens can't "talk" to the body, but you'd have lots of choices for things to play with for effect!

One of the oddities with these NEX cameras is that they are still crippling the "secondary function" - lower bitrate in the NEX3/5, no RAW for stills in the VG10.

BUT there's already beta firmware updates floating about for the NEX cams, and the VG10 firmware is supposed to be updated mid November. Part of me wonders how long before some of the creative people out in the field "hack" the firmware and open up some of the "hidden" or "locked" features...

The difference in balance is huge when hand-held! Sony should have made the long-zoom a step-up. It could have brought the price down to a very competitive $1600.

The 18-55 uses only OIS.

The 180-200 can use OIS plus EIS.

Found the difference described on DVINFO as:

"Ron's quite correct, the Active SS is an EIS that's applied on top of the much nicer OIS. You can't fault the effectiveness of having both on together, but the EIS loses you a very noticeable amount of wide-angle coverage - and at the same time loses you resolution. On top of that the stabilisation artifacts become much more apparent when both are on, with lag and overshoot making pans look 'sleepy'. But hand-held it's a revelation, quite amazingly effective."

Wow! Turns out I really don't want ACTIVE and don't need active on the 18-55.

I read that the old fully manual (with Exposure Ring) MC/MD may, or may not, work with the Sony adaptor. Being able to dial exposure via the lens rather than via the VG10 dial would be great.

Does anyone know?

The more zoomed in, the more stabilization becomes a necessary evil, and the more agressive/effective it has to be.

Sony has traditionally relied on "in body" stabilization in the Alpha series still cameras, rather than having to "repeat" buy expensive stabilization in the lenses. With the E mount, they've changed things around in hopes of "better" video performance, and added in lens stabilization (thus explaining part of the price of the 18-200) into the equation.

I think those of us who have used the CX500 and later "handy" cameras are particularly "spoiled" by how effective the stabilization truly is for handheld use (ability to take out "roll" is especially amazing!), but as a practical matter, if you're on tripod or other relatively stable shooting platform, particularly if you can move closer to the subject and shoot with a wider angle, you can get away with "less".

I think this is why I'm actually more intrigued by the soon to be released Alpha bodies with video. For what I want to use and interchangeable lens/body combo for, I already have ways to stabilize the camera physically to reduce the need for IS, my main interest is in being able to get shallow DoF for shots that would benefit, plus hopefully low light performance. While the VG10 is sexy and would do the trick, I'm really looking at the a55, where I can use old Minolta glass...

Be careful what you wish for :)
If the VG10 "active" mode w/ 18-200 lens is anything near as effective as it is on the CX550, it is worth a lot to handheld shooters like me.
With the CX550, you can "feel" the cam lock on to the image and see it become rock steady in the LCD. Then, as your trembly, twitchy hands finally exceed the IS limit, you get just a gentle drift of the image, then it locks on again. Bottom line, the shots look very acceptable in post- not tripod steady, but they certainly pass the "I didn't notice any camera shake" test when the finished project is viewed. If I use a monopod with Active mode- even just stuck in my belt buckle- I can often get shots that look locked down.
Prior to "active" mode IS, I was constantly either having to throw out great shots as unusable (particularly due to camera "roll"), or spend the time motion tracking the shot if I had to use it.
IMO, it's pretty amazing technology.

Steve, what's the advantage of the wide angle lens Sony offers, in your opinion, since it's not that different from the wide end of the other lenses? Just the extra fast speed? Have you had a chance to use it?
I must say this camera fascinates me, both from its ergonomics and its affordability.
What other cameras in the pipeline do you see as offering competition? The Panasonic AF-101? At this level of large imager visual quality, do you think the differences are going to be discernable or are we now getting to the point of hair-splitting on issues like low-light performance and such?

Do you think we've now reached a watershed moment in HD cameras?
Sorry for all the questions but this seems to be the moment I've been waiting for for decades.

The advantage is it is an f/2.8 verses the f/3.5 on the 18-55mm when in Wide. So I will be sending it back. That's only about a 1/2 stop faster.

If you want to spend money --- the adaptor with a 30-35mm f/1.4 lens would really offer low light capability. You have to buy a WIDE lens because its focal length is multiplied by 1.8 and you really want a 50-60mm lens.

====

"I'm really looking at the a55, where I can use old Minolta glass..."

So are you saying the MC/MD lenses mount on a a55? If so, shouldn't they mount on the A-mount adaptor? A really fast "short" zoom that was fully manual would be nice. Something like a 28-84mm.

====

I've stopped using the 18-200. The 18-55 is so much nicer to use. Of course, now I have to practice what I teach -- don't zoom, walk up to the action! Being physically close looks different, but the world has gotten used to Tele shots. Yet most scenes in a movie are shot with the camera physically close.

PS: That is a potential advantage of the 18mm lens. The minimum focus distance may let you shoot in someone's "personal space." I need to compare that to the 18-55 at WIDE.

Steve have you used a Canon 7d?
Would you recommend a 7d owner make the change to the Sony NEX-VG10?

ND Filter Solution??
 

Steve and others have brought up the problems caused by the lack of ND filters in the VG10.
It's hardly an issue with cams like the CX550, because DOF is not a real issue.
Obviously, with the VG10, one would like to be able to restrain shutter speed, while using a low f-stop to create shallow DOF in bright daylight.
Singh-Ray produces a still camera variable ND filter (the VariND)- gives you from 2-8 stops by just turning the ring (like a circular polarizing filter), 77mm filter with 67mm/77mm step-up ring for the VG. The large filter size should eliminate vignetting on wide angle shots.
On paper this looks like an elegant solution.
For daylight shooting the filter could just live on the camera, set the cam for shutter priority at 1/30, 1/60 etc., then just dial the ND filter to get the desired f-stop. This was always sort of my procedure with the EX1, but somewhat limited by having only 2 ND choices.
I wonder if any of you have actual experience using the VariND for video.
Any downsides??

What I'd really like is a ND filter that gives you the choice of 0 to 6, 8 or whatever. That way you wouldn't have to keep unscrewing it. That's the problem I see with the VariFilter you're talking about. What a pain to be putting it on, then taking it off when it's too dark or too many shadows.

0 to 8 stops would be excellent.
Unfortunately, no such product exists.
My guess is that unless you are truely in "low light", you could routinely spot the cam 2 stops @ 1/60 as a matter of course.
We'll see...

Box cameras
 

Has anyone come up with a descriptive term for this next generation of video cameras such as the VG10 and the Panasonic AF100?
Seems to me the companies don't want to make the camera too user-friendly so they're putting an industrial twist on it...boxy and (probably) somewhat unbalanced. From what Steve says, the ergonomics of the VG10 with the supplied lens is not so good. I imagine the same can be said for the AF100 and the Red Scarlet if that ever materializes.

Nevertheless, we are getting the sort of images we've been longing for. It's just that the companies don't want to produce a product that competes with their large-imager shoulder-mounted cameras. So I guess boxy is the only other direction they could go. (Well, triangles and globes come to mind...but let's not give them any more bad ideas!)

The Pana AF 100 absolutely looks like a shoebox.
IMO, the VG10 is a Masseratti by comparison. It's actually pretty stylish.
The VG is reported to be a bit front heavy with the 18-200 lens. Supposedly, the large battery (FV 100) corrects that a bit. Also a left hand forward (fingers under the focus ring) might even out the distribution of weight.
There's not much weight to begin with- I think around 3 lbs with battery and lens.

[photokina] Sony Unveils 7 Lens Units for NEX Mirrorless Cameras

Sept 27, 2010 16:51


The four interchangeable lenses to be released within 2011. A wide-angle single focus lens, single focus macro lens, single focus portrait lens and telephoto lens with the brand name of "Carl Zeiss."


A zoom lens, wide-angle zoom lens and single focus middle-range lens are scheduled to be released within 2012 under the brand name of "G Lens."


A flash unit is under development.


It will become possible to use the autofocus function with lenses equipped with an SAM or SSM motor.


Users will be able to assign the functions to change ISO sensitivity, auto HDR (high dynamic range) and aperture value to buttons.


It is important for SLR camera users to quickly change ISO sensitivity, etc.


It will become possible to shoot movies with an aperture value set for shooting still images. Currently, an aperture value is automatically set for shooting movies and cannot be adjusted by a user.

Sony Corp will launch seven interchangeable lenses for its "NEX" series of mirrorless cameras in 2012.

This was announced by Masashi Imamura, president of the company's Personal Imaging & Sound Business Group, at photokina2010, which is taking place in Cologne, Germany. Currently, there are only three interchangeable lenses that are compatible with the "E-mount," a lens mount for the NEX.

When Sony asked the users of the NEX about the camera, an overwhelmingly majority of them said that they want more lenses, said Toru Katsumoto, Sony senior general manager, Imaging Division 3.

Sony will release a wide-angle single focus lens, single focus macro lens, single focus portrait lens and telephoto lens under the brand name of "Carl Zeiss" within 2011. And the company intends to launch a zoom lens, wide-angle zoom lens and single focus middle-range lens under the brand name of "G Lens" within 2012. At photokina 2010, mock-ups of those lenses were exhibited along with a flash unit.

Imamura also announced that Sony started to consider disclosing the specifications of the E-mount to third-party manufacturers. Some manufacturers have already released mount adapters, and an increasing number of users are attaching the lenses of film cameras to the NEX cameras.

The specifications of the E-mount include mechanical elements such as shape and electronic elements that deal with signals. But the company has not yet decided to what extent it will disclose the specifications.

=========

Sony will update the firmware of the NEX in mid-October 2010 and the firmware of the NEX-VG10 camcorder in mid-November 2010 to responds to the following user complaints, which were cited most frequently.

- When a lens for the A-mount is attached to the NEX by using the "LA-EA1" mount adapter, its autofocus function does not work.

- It is not possible to change ISO sensitivity, auto HDR (high dynamic range) or aperture value by pressing a single button.

- It is not possible for users to set an aperture value for shooting a movie.

===============

MORE ABOUT FIRMWARE:


Here's a detailed list of the changes in this firmware update:

Adds a user-selectable option to drop you back into whatever menu item you had last selected, vs. always taking you to the top of the menu system when you hit the Menu button. (A huge improvement in usability; one that frequently had us gnashing our teeth as we fiddled with the cameras many options while testing the prototypes.)

Adds a user-selectable option to make the NEX menus wrap so scrolling off the bottom will take you back to the top entry again. (Not quite as important as the first change above, but this still removes an enormous annoyance.)



Adds customizable buttons: A gigantic improvement for experienced users. The center button and lower-left button on the camera's back (see illustration above) can now have a wide range of camera functions assigned to them. Sony reps at the press event didn't have an exact number for how many functions could be assigned, but said it was "a whole passel" -- potentially 20 or more. Configurable options include things like white balance, ISO, exposure mode, etc. The center button can have up to three functions assigned to it simultaneously, which can be selected by pressing multiple times or pressing and scrolling with the rear control dial. The lower left button supports just one function at once. Bottom line, you'll be able to have up to four camera functions close at hand, rather than having to delve into the menu system.

I've researching (hours) and testing and its now clear I'm going to have to write a lesson on DOF for my book. Fundamentally: illumination, focal-length, distance to subject, amount of motion "of" or "within" frame, and ND strength must ALL be considered. Each of these is a variable!

So, the need for a vari-ND is high -- but the cost is also high. Cokin makes an assembly that holds drop-in filters and that may be a solution.

I'm now only using the 18-55 zoom and shooting bright sunlight with an ND8 I understand how to get a shallow DOF with a reasonably slow shutter-speed.

But, the typical buyer is NEVER going to figure it all out!

PS: Sony sells an ND8 for both zooms. But, I stuck a 52mm into the 18-55 lens-hood so it goes on/off easily. A 5- or 6-stop would even be better, but they are rare and expensive.

I find the long lens to be unuseable hand-held! Adding weight will help, but then it's too heavy for me.

Worse, a QUARTER turn moves the zoom lens 6-inches.

On the 18-55 a HALF turn moves the zoom lens 1-inch.

The mechanical advantage of the long lens is like 12X worse. Unless you have a really heavy tripod, you'll not be able to zoom without jiggling the camera.

The 18-55 rings are like silk.

You can't make a long zoom lens using plastic parts! The friction is just too high. Sony should have done a 6X lens.

The Singh-Ray VariND is pricey @ around $350, but I noticed another brand (LCW Fader ND) that B&H carries for only $125.
It has the same specs: 2-8 stops. I have no idea what the quality issues are with this sort of product, or the trade-offs that might be involved with using one for HD video photography.
I was hoping someone on this forum had some experience to share.

I'm noticing that my Nikon 18-200 SLR lens is actually similar to the Sony E in that it is only about a quarter turn from wide to full tele.
Using it for still photography, the action seems smooth enough, but I could never do a steady hand held video zoom with it.
I'm thinking maybe it's just going to be a fact of life that without servo zoom or tripod, zoom shots are not going to be possible with the VG10 :(
Probably good for me- 90% of my zoom shots never get used in post anyway, maybe I should stop shooting them.

What I find sad is Sony using plastic in a lens with a current retail price of $800 USD.
How far we have fallen.

Quick question: Does the camera shoot interlaced or is it really progessive packaged into an interlaced stream?

In my lifetime of about 20 years in shooting video , I've never been able to manually zoom a video lens, large and small formats, without jiggling the handheld camera and effectively ruining the shot. On a high-end video zoom lens with some costly proper manual focus/zooming aids and supports, this may have been possible. It is just plain bad ergonomics shooting handheld video with a camera having a lens racking 6 inches in and out when zooming and a lens that requires the shooter to grab and manually rotate the zoom ring in a still photography fashion! Not a single cheapo handycam camera I have is burdened that much with such design compromises.

I think the best I could do is forget about zooming the VG10 when recording.

I just received the VG10 today & have spent about 2 hours exploring it.
I am not as distressed by the 18-200mm E lens as Steve is. I'm comparing it to my Nikon 35mm SLR 18-200mm lens, which also costs about $850, and is also around f 3.5-6.8. The zoom features on the two lenses seem very similar: a little more than a quarter turn to go from 18mm to 200mm, both lenses telescope about 3" at full zoom, both zoom rings require significant (and similar) torque to operate. The focus ring is smooth and easy to operate while recording. I'm wondering if we're not just seeing some sort of industry standard for 18-200mm lenses of this size, rather than any shortfall in Sony's design & execution.

I'm fairly impressed with the fit and finish of both the VG10 and the lens. It does have a finished, professional look and feel to me. It certainly doesn't look cheap.

The camera shoots 30p, recorded as 60i (each frame divided into 2 "fields")
On playback, there is no question that it has the cadence of 30p & requires caution when panning, etc.

The "button and menu" system require a little getting used to, but are servicable. The fact that you can go to Shooting Mode (P,S,A,M), WB, Exp Comp, MF, and Gain with dedicated buttons is quite good on such a small cam. I haven't found a convienient way to lock exposure without going to full manual- that's a bummer for panning shots.

Autofocus seems competant and quick enough. Another nice feature: If you press the "photo" button while in AF, the camera will refocus and show which AF sensors are being used. You can instantly see if the cam is looking at your talking head in the foreground, or focusing on the distant background, providing the clue that you are O.K., or need to go to MF to get what is needed.

My overall impression is that this is a lot of camera in a surprisingly small package, at an excellent price point. Very innovative, and generally user friendly.
Now, let's see what kind of pictures it makes :)

" I haven't found a convienient way to lock exposure without going to full manual- that's a bummer for panning shots."

Good catch!

It's not just pans. I was shooting passing cars. When a white car went by it was clear AP mode could not react fast enough so the car was over-exposed.

The same fluctuations will occur in SP mode.

In theory, simply switching to M mode should lock the current settings. It does, but the EC changes by itself to -2.0 with a tiny mm indicator. This seems like a bug because why should EC be altered? What is mm???

My tests show if you set your lightmeter to 150ISO (at 0dB gain), the shutter and aperture are correct.

PS: My 18-200 expands by 6-inches! :)

Steve
I'm trying to figure that out. I think we've got a semantic thing going on...
The 18-200mm E lens measures about 4" total length at full wide, and about 7" at full zoom.
So, I'm saying that going to full zoom "extends" the lens by 3"
Surely your lens is the same???

Manual Mode will lock your settings, including gain.
The little mm -2.0 that keeps changing and adjusting as you pan the camera around is simply an indicator of how far (how many f stops) you are from "ideal" exposure. The settings are actually locked down and do not change.
Lets say you are 1/60 shutter, f 5.6, 0 gain. If the exposure is perfect, then mm (manual mode??; manual "meter"??) will show +/-0. If you then pan to a darker area, mm indicator may read -1.7 (etc.). If you roll the center wheel the correct direction, it will open your f stop and the mm will head towards 0. So, now it's set for maybe 1/60, f 4.0, gain 0, and mm shows +/-0.
Anyway, you get the idea.
It's interesting that Manual Mode is a little bit shutter priority. When you switch to MM, you have the opportunity to set shutter first, and it stays the same thereafter. Then you use the mm indicater and the center wheel to refine the exposure by adjusting f-stop. Then, all exposure parameters remain locked down until you change them. But the mm indicator will continue to tell you how far off the money you are when the light changes.
Very clever!!!

If you have set Shutter using S mode, (AE sets Aperture), press DIAL, select M, press DOWN, and dial to 0.0. You are adjusting Aperture.


If you have set Aperture using A mode, (AE sets Shutter), press DIAL, select M, and dial to 0.0. You are adjusting Shutter.


In both cases the AE is locked, but you have full exposure control.

The MM shows the exposure error and can be ignored.

Can owners please share some pics??

And in the end....
 

Now that we've torn the camera apart from one end to another, is anyone who's actually got one willing to step back and give us the big picture again?
Is the VG10 a "keeper" or is it an "interim" camera? Should we wait for NAB or does this camera have the longevity to keep us happy and productive for the next 5 years? Are there too many aspects of this camera that would cause us to tear our hair out or is it overall as good as it gets for that price point?

I just don't like being served "experimental" models that are meant to test the marketplace and I don't feel like being a guinea pig in the world of video. The cameras I buy I end up using for many many years. Is the VG10 a keeper?

I've had the camera for only a week, but my impression is that this is just the beginning.
If it is successful in the marketplace, I would expect to see important improvements as they release new models over the next couple of years.
Some observations:
1) In general the image quality is excellent
2) Moire is a serious problem with this camera. Sony will need to consider possibly making this a dedicated video only camera with filters on the sensor to eliminate moire. An Exmor R sensor upgrade might be in the cards as well.
3) It certainly delivers shallow DOF, but proper manual focusing is difficult. Adding focusing aids would help a lot.
4) More, better, faster E lenses will be important, but that's another issue & apparently there are already plans for that in 2011, 2012.
5) Active OIS is not nearly as good as in the little CX550. I'm finding it difficult to get stable hand held shots. Maybe that is an engineering problem related to the large size of the chip & can't be easily solved, but it is a big disappointment.
6) The audio is quite good for an on camera mic. No problems there.
7) There are some nusiance issues with the menu/button operations that will surely change with time.
8) ND filters are a must for proper control of shutter, iris, etc. I'm using the VariND for daylight shooting and am very pleased with that solution. There is probably no way they can add internal ND 1 and 2 as we are used to on larger cams, because of the huge chip size.
9) IMO the form factor, size, price point, etc. are all winners.
I am enjoying the camera. It is certainly very functional, a great concept, and produces beautiful images. I'm still figuring out exactly when I would use the VG10 rather than my other cams. But, I would not at all be surprised to find myself trading my VG10 body in for the VG12, or whatever, in a year or so.
I think we are far from the endpoint with this camera, and I think we will see the line expand to larger, more expensive pro featured versions in the next 12 months or so.
Bottom line, IMO if you are looking for something to use for 5 years, you might want to wait for the next version of the VG :)

I appreciate your honest assessment. Thanks!

Bob's is right on. I agree with everything he said -- especially that Sony MAY have shot themselves in the foot by including a still camera function that prevents the use of a LPOF

I say MAY because the still camera uses a mechanical shutter that slides into place. It's possible that as it slides in, a LPOF slides out. Why the artifacts then? Because when shooting video, 9MP are used which is reduced to 2MP. IF the anti-aliasing is set for the 9MP -- to provide better rez. specs. -- there will be aliasing. Sony has a long history of getting great numbers at the expense of aliasing. Is there such a thing as screw-in anti-alias filter?

Today I was shooting a bee and ants on a flower and used the long lens. Will post pix. Great shots but I couldn't wait to get back to the shorter lens with its silky rings. I would use the long ONLY as a Zoom-Tele: 100mm to 200mm. Wish I had brought my 500mm along.

Using Sony's 50 (90) f1.8 was mind blowing. Not only the VERY shallow DOF, but there is a wonderful metalilc sound as one turns the focus ring.

PS: I would not count on a rapid move to a "better" unit. Sony kept its HC1 for years. I would look for something from Canon.

Check it out- an anti-moire screw-on filter:
Nex-VG10 moire reduction and 50/1.4 ND tests - Sony NEX-VG10 User Group on Vimeo
I haven't tried it, but the video looks promising

If Sony considers this a "consumer" camera, it could see a refresh fairly quickly, as soon as a year, IIRC the HC1 only had a 1-2 year model life (I think it remained in the line with the HC3?). Of course the A1U "pro" version is only now fading out...

Sony progresses pretty quickly on the "consumer" side of the equation, like the Exmor R that went from lab/press release to full retail availability in the XR series in just about a year... replacing the SR's which had a one model year "run". Honestly they hit the mark with the XR/CX550, not sure where they can or will go from these cameras... so they are probbly looking for new new directions.

The one challenge I see with the VG10 (admittedly without having actual "hands on" one) is that it's an odd duck - it's not "pro" enough (no XLRs, frame rates, zebras, peaking, etc, etc.), and yet I suspect the average consumer will either return this within a week, or just simply pack it away in frustration. A pro will see the stuff that's missing, and a consumer will just realize what's not there (in "user friendly, point and shoot" operation)...


Sony definitely realizes there's a market for "large sensor" cameras with video, look at the number of completely "unique" concept cameras that have hit this year - the NEX mirrorless still cams (which have been a HUGE hit). the VG10 (it's own "animal"), and the recent unveiling of the SLT, as opposed to SLR, Alphas with video (the A55 looks to be a HUGE seller, judging from advance interest/demand - I may pull the trigger on one myself).

Sony also appears to be watching very carefully what "sticks", having already made alterations to the release dates of the comparable SLR models to the a33/a55, and indicated the replacement for their long overdue a700 may well be an SLT.

I have no doubt they sense a sea change, but aren't sure where the tide is flowing!

About the only things I think we can safely say is that Sony decided to join the interchangeable lens/large sensor party, in a big way.

As for ANY camera being a 5 year proposition with the current speed of technolgy shifts... well, a camera may remain viable and relatively effective for that lenght of time, but...

I suspect 3D is coming faster and bigger than most of us (myself included) are anticipating. It's already a certainty that Sony will be putting a good amount of resources in that direction.

Just what I've observed with how the Sony corporation does their thing...

I think Dave's observations are very perceptive.
I too have wondered where Sony will go with the CX550 line- it is such a phenomonal little masterpiece, they've hardly left any room for improvement.
So, maybe they'll let it sit for a while and concentrate on the VG line, where there is lots of room for improvement. I do think the VG can make it as a consumer cam if they start dialing in the upgrades that worked so well with the CX550. Even in its present state, I can run it full auto and get striking images.
Here's an interesting short- shot by an experienced videographer- but deliberately shot "tourist style" just to see what he could get letting the cam call all the shots:


I've shot with it just enough now that I'm beginning to see that the DOF even at mid iris (f-5/6), focused on a foreground subject, really contributes more value to the image than I had expected. I can get a bit of this with the EX1, but it is not as striking.
It's going to take me a while to really explore this new toy, but I definitely think there's something very, very interesting going on here. If Sony can get this puppy up to the level of the CX550 over the next couple of years, it could be a real home run across a very broad range of shooters. From grandma to aspiring film makers.
Well, maybe not grandma, but at least uncle Ted...

Pretty good observations Dave.

Unfortunately for Sony, Panasonic hasn't been standing still either, and judging by the phenomenal interest in the AF100, I think Sony has REALLY missed the boat on this one.

Only time will tell, but by the end of the year, I think Sony will definitely be on the back foot for quite a while.

Cheers,

Vaughan